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Low Testosterone Symptoms in Males
If the testosterone level in the blood of a male is lesser than 300 ng/dL, then he is suffering from low testosterone. Usually testosterone measuring from the blood samples is done in morning, and the normal value should be in betwixt 270-1070 nanograms/dL. The measurement is not quite accurate as the level of testosterone tends to fluctuate throughout the entire day.
Lowering of the testosterone level as per advancing age in males in fairly normal, but on the other hand it can potentially affect their health in many ways which they might not be even able to recognize and are thus they are left unnoticed. It is interesting to note that not all men having low testosterone (T) will bear symptoms of the same, research has suggested that amongst all of low T males, only one half to two-thirds will show some symptoms. From the time when men hit the age 30, there is a gradual alleviation in their testosterone levels but they do not suffer from anything which can be called as a male menopause.
The gradual decline is referred as “andropause” and as compared to men having low T, there are fewer men suffering from symptomatic androgen deficit. Androgen deficiency affects only 3 to 7 percent of males under the age of 70 while 18.4 percent over it. The most common low testosterone symptoms in males are that of reduced sex drive, mood alterations, erectile dysfunction, and irregular sleeping pattern, increase in abdominal fat, tiredness, loss of bone mass and prone to fractures. Men suffering from hypotension, having some resistance towards insulin and having waistline more than 40 are the ones at high risk of developing androgen deficiency.
Low Testosterone Symptoms in Young Males
It is rare to find Low testosterone symptoms in young males; however certain inexplicable medical conditions can affect the production of testosterone at any age and lead to insufficient development of young males or adolescents. Almost 20 percent of men below the age of 30 having low T will suffer from erectile dysfunction.
If there is not enough supply of testosterone to the fetus during pregnancy then;
- Development of the genitals will be hampered.
- Penis and scrotum will be poorly developed.
- Presence of unclear genitalia will be there which can neither be considered as that of a male nor female.
If the testosterone production is hampered at or prior to attaining puberty then,
- Sexual maturation will be absent.
- Deepening of the voice will not take place.
- Body hair will grow poorly.
- Gynecomastia or enlargement of the breasts will be present.
- Penis and testis will fail to get enlarged.
Low Testosterone Symptoms in Females
Reduced level of testosterone in females is found to be present during onset of menopause or after a surgery involving the removal of ovaries. Obesity, diabetes, overdose of contraceptive pills, hypotension and glandular malfunction can reduce the T levels in women.
Low Testosterone Symptoms in Females are;
- Tiredness and fatigue.
- Accumulation of fat around the waist.
- Deterioration of bones.
- Higher risk of developing osteoporosis.
- Irritation resulting in hot flashes
- Reduced libido.
- Incapability to achieve an orgasm, i.e. Anorgasmia.
- Loss in muscle mass and reduced bone strength.
- Cardiovascular diseases.
Low Testosterone Symptoms – Treatment
In men, intramuscular injection of a hormone replaced by testosterone is administered once in two weeks. This is testosterone replacement therapy. A daily skin gel which can be worn as patches directly on skin or can be taken orally as tablets or can be placed a as a putty in the gums is done to raise the level of testosterone in the blood so as to reach the normal range. AndroGel is one of the daily testosterone replacement therapy available since 2001. The testosterone used in AndroGel is the same kind which the body of a man produces naturally. However, risk is involved in the type of treatment used, so the decision so as to use which type of testosterone to be used should be discussed clinically.
In women treatment for low testosterone symptoms has not developed much and is still under medical scrutiny. It is thus advisable to get the testosterone levels checked after the age of 40.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/testosterone-therapy/MC00030
http://www.medicinenet.com/low_testosterone/page3.htm#symptoms
http://men.webmd.com/news/20070912/low-testosterone-symptoms-rare?page=2
http://www.askmen.com/sports/health_60/91_mens_health.html
